AEW: Mercedes Mone on Her Post-WWE Career Journey & Being Told by WWE Higher Up “The Grass Isn’t Greener on the Other Side”, Backstage Update on Reason for AEW Uploading Full Matches to Their YouTube Channel, More News

Mercedes Mone Comments on Her Post-WWE Career Journey and Being Told by WWE Higher Up “The Grass Isn’t Greener on the Other Side”

A recent issue of the Mone Mag fan newsletter featured Mercedes Mone reflecting on her post-WWE wrestling career journey leading to her working for New Japan Pro Wrestling and AEW and how a WWE high-level official had once told her that “the grass isn’t greener on the other side.”

Growing up, WWE was everything to me. I never imagined my life without it. But over time, I’ve come to realize that it’s not WWE I can’t live without; it’s pro wrestling itself. I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to the person who sparked this journey for me. Because of that pivotal moment, my life changed for the absolute better.

Not a day goes by that I don’t feel grateful for that decision. It pushed me to new heights, matured me into a strong-willed CEO, and empowered me to take control of my life and future. I’m especially thankful for all my fans who have stood by me throughout this journey.

I want to remind you all: when something doesn’t feel right and you start receiving signs from the universe, listen. I’ve been working on sharing my story, and trust me, when the time comes, it’s going to be one for the books.

I remember a higher-up once telling me, “The grass isn’t greener on the other side.” Well, let me tell you—every seed I’ve planted over the years is growing and flourishing like never before. Becoming the highest-paid women’s wrestler is a beautiful flower that has blossomed, and I couldn’t be prouder.

Keep chasing your dreams because no one will stop mine.

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Backstage Update on Reason for AEW Uploading Full Matches to Their YouTube Channel

AEW recently has been uploading full notable and iconic matches from their past events on their official YouTube channel.

Fightful Select reported that their sources stated that the reason why AEW has started to upload full matches to their YouTube channel is part of a new broader strategy to boost interest in the company’s streaming content. It was reported that each full video description includes links directiing viewers to AEW’s streaming service. It was also reported that this new push is clearly intended to drive more engagement for their library content.

In regards to certain full matches lacking commentary, those spoken to reportedly stated that this was a deliberate choice made by AEW officials that was driven by social media response. Clips without commentary had gained traction online and AEW officials reportedly wanted to experiment further based on that buzz to gauge fan reaction.

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AEW News & Notes

Fightful Select reported that their sources stated that Swerve Strickland had missed last week’s AEW Fyter Fest 2025 show due to him being overseas to attend the wedding of Meech Golden.

Fightful Select also reported that their sources stated that Willow Nightingale had missed last week’s AEW Fyter Fest 2025 show as well due to her representing AEW during promotional appearances at the NHL Stanley Cup Finals.

Fightful Select also reported that their sources denied recent rumors of former AEW creative writer Jimmy Jacobs had returned to the company. It was reported that the origin of the rumor was a recent post on Instagram by Jacobs that promoted AEW Dynamite.

This past Wednesday’s AEW Summer Blockbuster show in Portland, Oregon featured a promo and brawl segment involving MJF, Mitsico, the Hurt Syndicate, JetSpeed, and Mascara Dorada. MJF’s promo portion of the segment was notable for MJF referencing Mistcio’s time in WWE as Sin Cara calling him a “sloppy Sin Cara.”

AEW announced that Will Ospreay, Bandido, and Anna Jay had recently visited women’s soccer team Thorns FC ahead of this past Wednesday’s AEW Summer Blockbuster show in Portland.

As noted before, Thunder Rosa recently issued a challenge to Britt Baker online for a Hair vs. Hair match when Baker makes her return from her current abscense from AEW. Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp reported in a recent Q&A article that his sources stated that Rosa’s challenge to Baker was something that she acted without AEW’s creative input. Sapp reported that this was just Rosa cutting her own storyline angle and her knowing that she and Baker have been “money” and they have a very special and very real thing together. Sapp also reported that this was just Rosa attempting to drum up interest for a potential resumption of their feud in the future in AEW.

Dustin Rhodes recently reflected on Twitter about this past Wednesday being the 10 year anniversary of his father Dusty’s passing. Rhodes stated “The greatest man in the world. We miss you Pop!!! ❤️“

In a recent interview with Undisputed, Nick Wayne gave his thoughts about him getting the chance to work with his mother Shayna in wrestling. Wayne stated “It’s something we never expected, but it is fun to work together,” said Wayne. “She does such a great job of being herself. Our story is real. There aren’t many mother-son duos in pro wrestling. It’s a crazy experience, and I’m blessed to have my mom there with me.“

In a recent interview with Fightful, Deonna Purrazzo gave her thoughts about her teaming up with the FBI’s Little Guido and Tommy Rich at this past April’s Mark Hitchcock Memorial Supershow 2025 event for WrestleCon and how AEW was “totally cool” with the idea of her teaming up with the FBI and wrestling an intergender Trios match. Purrazzo stated “It was so fun because I just never really thought that was something that I’d be asked to do and it was such like a fleeting thing. Like Highspots was like, ‘We’re putting on a show. We’re gonna have the FBI versus the Boricuas. They’re gonna have Nathalya. We’d love to have you join the group,’ and it was before I went to AEW that we booked that in. So, then I was kind of like, ‘Ooh. We don’t see lot of intergender wrestling or mixed tag wrestling at AEW. Is this something that could get me in trouble?’ So I had to get it approved. They were totally cool with the idea. So it was just really fun that I got to do it and I way more fun than I thought I was going to have. It works because Virtuosa is Italian. It’s an Italian word. I think that they welcomed me with open arms and I had to steal a little bit of something from that day.” (Transcript h/t: Fightful.com)